Propeller-forming machine



S. HEATH.

PROPELLER FoRMlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 28. 1911.

Patented Dee. 23, 1919.

gwuemtoz 11171. fr. u

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPENCER HEATH, or BALTIMonE, MARYLAND.

PROPELLER-FORMING MACHINE.

To all Awhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SPENCER HEATH, a

i citizen of the United States, residing at on a drive shaft 4 which extends through i Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Propel ler-Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting material according to a pattern or model and pertains particularly to machines for cutting aeroplane propellers.

The invention provides a stationary rotary cutter and a stationaryrotary cam wheel mounted in specified fixed positions relative to each other. A freely movable swinging extensible member is pivotally attached to a main upright support and carries at its outer end a yieldably mounted combined holder for a propeller model and the work which is to be fashioned into a propeller. The work and model are held rigid with respect to each other and are adapted to be swung into engagement with the cutter and cam wheel respectively, movement of the cam wheel over the helical surface of the model causing the cutter to form a corresponding surface in the work. i

Other features and details of the inven tion will be described and claimed in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 represents an elevation of the machine showing the relative position of the stationary parts and the swinging extensible member carrying the yieldably mounted model and work support.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged sectional view of the upper bearing of the yieldably mounted support.`

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 represents a stationary post or support firmly fixed to suitable foundation or other substantial support. 2 represents an `upper or primary horizontally extending arm projecting from the support 1 and rigidly connected thereto. At the eXtreme end of the arm 2 is a rotary cutter member 3 mounted the arm 2. At the opposite end of the shaft A1 is a pulley wheel 5 which is driven by belt 6 driven by motor 7. Immediately below the arm 2 and paallel therewith and eX- tending in the same direction is a secondary or lower arm 8 having at its end, immedi- Specication of Letters Patent. Patentd Dec, 23, 1919 Application mea August es, 1917.

Serial No. 188,608.

ately below the cutter wheel 3, a rotary cam wheel 9 rotatably mounted on a shaft 1() extending from the arm 8. The opposite end of the arm 8 is rigidly connected to the vertical supporting post l.

The extensible arm is connected to the.y vertical supporting post 1 by hinged connections 11 and 12 and the extensible member swings therefrom as a rigid rectangular frame 13 comprising upper and lower horizontal portions and parallel vertical parts connecting' the ends of the horizontal portion. At the side of the frame 13 opposite to the hinges 11 and 12, there is an additional rectangular frame, 14 pivoted to the top` and bottom of the first rectangular frame, lthe top pivotal connection being denoted by 15 and the lower one by 1G. The extreme outer vertical connecting member of the frame 14 is denoted by the numeral 17 and is formed of hollow tubular metal. A vertical rod 18 is slidably mounted within the tube 17 and extends from the top and bottom of the tube. At the top of the tube 17 a bearing is provided by the insertion of the bearing member 19 through which the rod 18 extends. At the bottom of the tube `17 the tube is provided with a restricted i the member 17. At the top or upper portion of the rod 18 is a shoulder on which is a model 23 which is rigidly secured to the shoulder by any suitable fastening means such as bolts or screws as indicated at 24. The rod 18 projects upwardly through the model 23 and is adapted to receive atits upper end the material constituting the work 'as indicated by 25 which is to be formed into a product resembling the model. As illustrated herein this is to be formed into a propeller. The work is spaced from the model 23 by means of a spacer member 26 which is slipped over the upper end of the rod 1'8 and which has a tight connection with the form or model 23 so that the part 26 may not turn on the rod 18 with respect to the model 23. At the upper end of the spacer member 26 is a shoulder 27 on which is iirmly secured the work 25. The shoulder 27 may be secured to the under` surface of und the work by means of angular projections extending into the wood or material or by means of screws or bolts. vThe upper side of the work is adapted to receive a clamp member 28 which is securely held in place by means of a fastening nut 29.

The model 23 is mounted so as to lie in substantially the same plane as the cani wheel 9 and the work 25 is spaced'from the l 0model23 at exactly the same distance as the distanceV between the cam wheel 9 and the rotary Ycutter 3. VVhen the extensible arm "is swung on the connections 11 and 12 and '15 and 16 the model 23 may be brought into engagement with the cam wheel 9 and at the saine time the -rotary cutter 3 will oper- "ate on the material of the work and tend to fashion the latter'according to the movement of the model over vthe cam. A vertical ryielding. motion for the work, model and lvertical' rod 18 is provided by the resilient Yaction of the spring 21 as it is compressed between the shoulder and the lower end Yof the member 17. ln the operation of the inachinepressure on the model or work will force the post 1S downwardly and if the vextensible member is iii the right position the work 25 will engage the cutter member 3. The machine has been found of great service because of the freedom of movement provided by the extensible arm and the yieldably mounted model and work units. The work is rigid with respect to the model and the cutter inember is rigid with respect to the cam wheel. Any degree of vertical or horizontal movement may be secured by comparatively slight pressure on the work V'or model, this causing a corresponding movement in the swinging extensible meinyber or the vertical movement of the work and model. It is advantageous to have the peripheral contour of the cutter 3 and the member 9 similar. These members, however, need not have the same dimensions. Forinstance it may be desirable to use a 'heavier thicker model than the one indicated at 23 in solid lines. ln this case the thicker modelis illustrated in dotted lines surrounding the original model 23. The

cam wheelv 9 accordingly must be of smaller dimension than the one shown infull lines, u thediiference in size being in direct propor- A`time to the enlargement of the model. The

enlarged in the model 23. The member 9 fis preferably rotatably mounted but may be rigid on its support and not rotatable. The essential feature is `that its contour y ter member.

'. The invention includes substitutes for the conform to the peripheral sweep of the cutadapted to move in a given plane at rightangles to the plane of rotation of the cutter member, and a combined work and model holder mounted on said extensible member and adapted to swing work into engagement with said cutter member.

2. In a machine of the character described, a primary stationary horizontal support, a rot-ary cutter member at one end of said support, a secondary stationary snpport, a rotary follower member mounted on one end of said secondary support and having its axis separate from but parallel with and in the same vertical plane with the axis of said cutter member` a third stationary support, an extensible member pivotal] v attached at one end to said third stationary supportto move in a given plane at right angles to the plane of rotation ot the cutter member, and a combined work and model holder mounted on said extensible member and adapted to swing woi'k into engagement with said cutter member.

3. In a machine of the character described, a prinrary stationary horizontal support, a rotary cutter member at one end of said support, a secondary stationary support, a rotary follower member at one end of said secondary support and in a fixed position with respect to said cutter member` said follower member and said cutter membei being mounted to turn on their horizontal axes and in the same vertical plane, a third stationary support, an extensible member pivotally attached at one end to said third stationary support to move in a given plane a't right angles to the plane of rotation of the cutter member, and a combined work and model holder mounted on said extensible inembei and adapted to swing `rwork into engagement with said cutter memdottedlines within the wheel 9 show the relative size to correspond. with the model as ber.

et. ln a machine of the character described, a primary stationary horizontal support, a rotary cutter member at one end of said support, a secondary` stationary support, a follower member at one end of said secondary support and in a fixed position with respect to said cutter member, a third stationary support, an extensible member pivotally attached at one end to said third stationary support to move in a given plane, and a vcrtically yieldable combined work and model holder mounted on said extensible member and adapted to swing work into engagement with said cutter member.

5. In a machine of the character described, a primary stationary horizontal support, a rotary cutter member at one end of said support, a secondary stationary support, a fo1- lower member at one end of said secondary support and in a fixed position with respect to said cutter member, a third stationary support, an extensible member pivotally attached at one end to said third stationary support to move in a given plane, and a combined vertically yieldable work and model holder mounted on said extensible member and adapted to swing work into engagement with said cutter member comprising a bearing"in said extensible member, a slidably mounted rod extending from said bearing and having means for holding a model and work in a parallel position and a yieldable spring member co-acting with said extensible member and said rod.

(i. In a machine of the character described, a primary stationary horizontal support, a rotary cutter member' at one end of said support, a secondary stationary support, a follower member at one end of said secondary support and in a fixed position with respect to said cutter member, a third stationary support, an extensible member pivotally attached at one end to said third stationary support to mov@ in a given plane, and a combincd vertically yieldable work and model holder mounted on said extensible member and adapted to swing work into engagement with said cutter member' comprising a bea-ring in said extensible member, a slidably mounted rod extending from said bearing and movable at right angles to the path of movement of said extensible member, model fastening means rigidly attached to said rod, work fastening means on said rod arranged in a xed position with respect to said model fastening means, and a resilient spring member coacting with said extensible member and said rod. I

7. In a machine of the character described, a primary stationary horizontal support, a rotary cutter member at one end of said support, a secondary stationary support, a follower member at one end of said secondary support and in a fixed position with respect to said cutter member, a third stationary support, an extensible member pivotally attached at one end to said third stationary support to move in a given plane, a combined vertically yieldable work and model holder mounted on said extensible member for movement at right angles to the plane of movement ci said extensible member, and adapted to swing work into engagement with said cutter member, the mounting for said combined. work and model holder comprising a bearing tube having an enlarged bore and reduced end openings constituting end bearings, a rod extending through said tube and projecting from either end, a shoulder on said rod adjacent the upper end of said enlarged bore, a spring member within said enlarged bore encircling said rod, and adapted to engage said shoulder and be compressed between the same and the lower restricted end of said bearing tube, and fastening means on the upper portion of said rod for fastening work rigidly to said rod.

S. In a machine of the character described, a primary stationary support, a rotary cutter member at one end of said support, a second stationary support, a follower member at one cnd of said second support and in a fixed position with respect to said cutter member, a third stationary support, an extensible member pivotally attached at one end to said third stationary support and adapted to move in a given plane, said extensible member comprising a first rectangu lar frame pivotally attached at one side to said third stationary support, and a second rigid rectangular frame pivotally attached to said lirst frame, and a combined work and model holder movably mounted on and with respect to said extensible member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

SPENCER HEATH. 

